What many people consider to be the original vampire movie, "Dracula" is based on the classic novel by Bram Stoker and stars Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula and Edward Van Sloan as Professor Van Helsing.

The story takes place in Eastern Europe in 1897, where a love story evolves between Count Dracula and a visiting woman named Mina. This well-known story has everything that a great vampire movie requires, including drama, suspense, bloodshed and an incredible love story.

Although we love the drama of the original "Dracula," the 1992 remake, which stars Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing and Gary Oldman as Count Dracula, is also well worth watching. This updated version took home three Oscars in 1993, including Best Makeup, Best Costume Design and Best Effects.

Yeah, the Dracula films had everything, except for Cruise and Pitt ...

No. 1: "Interview with the Vampire" (1994)

Brad Pitt. Tom Cruise. Christian Slater. Kirsten Dunst. Antonio Banderas. Need we say more? This horror film takes No. 1 on our list, thanks to a great cast and an epic storyline, based off the novel by Anne Rice.

This 200-year-long story of curse, love and death is told through the eyes of Louis (Pitt), a self-loathing vampire who was created to serve as a companion to an older vampire named Lestat (Cruise).

Louis hates being a vampire and refuses to take human lives, but stays with Lestat out of love for a young orphan girl-turned vampire named Claudia (Dunst). The story, which is full of drama, is told to a modern-day reporter, played by Slater.

There's no doubt that today's sultry, sensitive vamps of "True Blood," "The Vampire Diaries" and "Twilight" owe a great debt to Rice and this movie.

While there are certainly plenty of vampire movies to choose from, if you haven't seen them yet, we recommend you start with our top five, which includes a little something for everyone. If you've already seen these top flicks, don't wait for Halloween to see them again.